Stillness
We’re so active in our minds with repetitive ego (past and future) thoughts, it can be difficult to create space for stillness. When we let go of those thoughts, and open up a space- that is merging your being with the present moment. Creating space, allows room to give our full attention to be.
Rushing from activity to activity, not giving our full attention to anything may cause us to skip over things that are important.
“Most people’s lives are cluttered up with things: material things, things to do, things to think about.”
If you’re not fully there and you’re stuck in your thoughts – you won’t be able to accurately respond to the needs of the situation at the present moment.
We limit the quality of time we give things. Space is extremely important to connect to what is in front of you at the current moment and give it the appropriate attention necessary for growth. How often do we allow ourselves space? The space to just be, breathe, forgive, laugh, have fun – or whatever it might be. Let go of any thoughts that aren’t serving you. Moods, discomfort, feelings, gratitude, etc. are temporary and “This, too, will pass.” There is nothing you need to do, just experience these moments and free yourself to be with it.
“You are never more essentially, more deeply, yourself than when you are still. When you are still, you are who you were before you temporarily assumed this physical and mental form called a person. You are also who you will be when the form dissolves. When you are still, you are who you are beyond your temporal existence: consciousness—unconditioned, formless, eternal.”
Wanting things to happen instantly and not allowing the space for things to grow and evolve naturally is limiting.
“Once you see and accept the transience of all things and the inevitability of change, you can enjoy the pleasures of the world while they last without fear of loss or anxiety about the future. When you are detached, you gain a higher vantage point from which to view the events in your life instead of being trapped inside them.”
There is nothing you need to do. Allow yourself the space to be.
Who Aren’t I?
page 186, “Unconscious people— and many remain unconscious, trapped in their egos throughout their lives—will quickly tell you who they are, their name, their occupation, their personal history, the shape or state of their body, and whatever they identify with. Others appear to be more evolved because they think of themselves as an immortal soul or divine spirit. But do they really know themselves, or have they just added some spiritual-sounding concepts to the content of their mind? Knowing yourself goes far deeper than the adoption of a set of ideas or beliefs. Spiritual ideas and beliefs may at best be helpful pointers, but in themselves they rarely have the power to dislodge the more firmly established core concepts of who you think you are, which are part of the conditioning of the human mind. Knowing yourself deeply has nothing to do with whatever ideas are floating around in your mind. Knowing yourself is to be rooted in Being, instead of lost in your mind.”
Food For Thought
Almost everyone carries in their field an accumulation of old, emotional pain. This sensation is what Eckhart Tolle describes as the “pain-body”; the voice in your head that tells sad, anxious, or angry stories about yourself and your life, about other people, the past, future, or even imaginary events. In addition to the movement of thought, there is another dimension to the ego: emotion. Emotion is the body’s reaction to your mind- the body’s response to a thought. The body believes in what the mind is thinking, and it cannot tell the difference between the body itself and a thought. Your story of the past consists not only a mental recollection, but also emotional memory – and you’re forced to reenact the past again and again.
“The voice in the head tells a story that the body believes in, reacts to and continuously disrupts the body’s natural state of well-being.”
Dysfunctional thought patterns that make up the ego’s negative thoughts feed the “pain-body.” Everything negative we say about ourselves to ourselves (self-talk) and to others is programing us for failure, and creating self-fulfilling prophecies. The brain reacts more strongly to stimuli that it deems negative. There is a greater surge in electrical activity.
Worry is repetitive negative thought patterns that pretend to be important and necessary. Your mind commands “give me your attention, this is important.” However, you’ll never worry your way out of a problem.
For example: the thought,”I haven’t been successful in relationships and I never will be.”
This one negative thought can take possession of your entire mind. It’s the momentum of the mind and the structure of the “pain-body.” These types of thoughts are food for the “pain-body.”
You can go beyond the ego by taking responsibility for your inner state now. Even if blame seems more than justified, as long as you blame others, you will continue to feed the “pain-body” and will remain trapped in your ego. Instead of blaming darkness, you bring in the light. With forgiveness, your victim identity dissolves, and your true power emerges-the power of presence. You can step out of the stream of thinking and take your attention to the present, and immediately the past no longer has that power over you.
“Nothing ever happened in the past that can prevent you from being present now; and if the past cannot prevent you from being present now, what power does it have?” (p.141)
Make sure you feed your mind good food. A positive thought has a totally different feeling-tone than a negative one. The present moment is limitless and has infinite potential.
